Once upon a time, the Toronto Maple Leafs were looking to hire the best executive available to return to team to its rightful spot atop of the NHL. Many names were considered including that of Predators General Manager David Poile. Ultimately Brian Burke, for better or for worse is still up in the air, landed the top job but what did the Leafs miss out on?

The Predators arrive in Toronto for Tuesday night’s match-up with a 7-5-3 record, the equivalent of a 93-point season that would be their sixth 90-point campaign in the last seven years. Nashville has averaged 99 points a season the past five years, the league’s fifth best record in that time.

The laurels that are thrown Poile and Barry Trotz's way, after 12 seasons together, do not end there. Kris Versteeg and Ron Wilson were effusive in their regard for the team. It really makes a guy wonder what if? Here's some other pre-game reading: